Security in ITAD Processing Facilities: The Procurri Standard
Just because IT equipment has reached the end of its life for a business doesn’t mean that it can, or should, be stuck in a corner, binned, and forgotten about. Here at Procurri, we take the data security and legal obligations for the environmental impact of e-waste recycling extremely seriously; with safety a priority every step of the ITAD process. But how does this translate into a tangible security protocol? Let’s investigate…
Secure Vehicles for Hardware Transportation
An often-underestimated security aspect in the ITAD process is the transportation of hardware and e-waste recycling to the facilities at which it will be wiped, refurbished, and recycled. Procurri works with a limited number of carefully selected logistics partners for collection and transportation purposes. All vehicles used are for the exclusive single use of the customer with no other shipments onboard, are rigid-sided, unmarked, security locked, and tracked with GPS throughout their journey. What’s more, all drivers and crew employed are security cleared to DBS level (or higher relevant geographical requirement). Every member of staff employed in the process has experience in the transportation of hardware and so can carry out their duties to the highest standard of excellence.
Waste Transfer Notes Issues for all Collections
Before any ITAD collection happens, Procurri issues the customer with a pre-collection agreement stating exactly the equipment will be collected, providing unique collection identifiers for each item, and giving authority from the customer for the movement of the hardware. Once signed by the customer’s representative, the equipment is legally designated as UEEE (Used Electrical and Electronic Equipment). Whether the equipment ends up as WEEE disposal (as e-waste recycling) or designated for reuse (to become certificated pre-owned items or even buybacks), a Waste Transfer Note will be issued and everything processed under a properly licensed agency accredited to the highest possible level.
NCSC Approved Data Erasure Tools
Procurri is the EMEA partner and reseller for Blancco data erasure hardware, approved by NCSC to HMG IAS 5 (1 or 3 overwrite). Using the Blancco data erasure hardware, Procurri’s specialist engineers can process high volumes of disks all erased to this level, each item with a certificate of data erasure produced to provide a full end-to-end audit process.
Secure ITAD Facilities
All ITAD processed that is data-bearing by Procurri is managed in a separate, secure facility to its other buildings; monitored 24/7/365 by CCTV (covering loading bays, all exits and entrances, and data erasure areas) and fully alarmed. Only fully security cleared, and authorized staff may enter the ITAD facility, with no visitors permitted – aside from customers to witness their own data erasure in operation. The external signage to the building makes no reference to the trading activity or operations undergone inside. Furthermore, all hardware is considered to be data-bearing until it has been audited to prove otherwise. Until this point, all hardware is caged and locked before being sorted with other non-data-bearing equipment after assessment – at which point it may be categorized as saleable stock or may enter the waste stream.
It is not enough to say that security is prioritized during ITAD processing; it must be proven. Procurri puts safety and security at the heart of everything it does with e-waste recycling, truly a cut above the rest.